Which Steeler will have their jersey retired next?
The Pittsburgh Steelers, one of the most storied franchises in NFL history, have built their reputation on a foundation of grit, determination, and an unyielding commitment to excellence. Since their establishment in 1933, the Steelers have cultivated a rich legacy filled with legendary figures who have left an indelible mark on the sport. The contributions of Steelers legends shaped the team’s identity and cemented its place in pro football history.
One way that the Steelers honor their former players is to place them within the recently christened “Hall of Honor”. The Hall of Honor, which sits inside Acrisure Stadium, is a mini museum of sorts that displays many of the Steelers all-time greats. However, there is a higher honor that was seldom attributed to these great players until recently as well: having their uniform number retired from use after retirement from their playing days.
The high honor is bestowed in other sports, but is often difficult to implement in pro football due to the sheer number of players on the team roster (53 active players, plus practice squad) as opposed to other sports. Because the storied franchise was built on so many individual contributions over the years, the team couldn’t retire a large number of jerseys and still have some available for their new incoming players.
Part of that philosophy changed over the last decade when the Steelers retired their second jersey number ever, as “Mean” Joe Greene‘s #75 joined Ernie Stautner’s #70 as the only two jerseys officially retired by the organization. Stautner’s number was retired back in 1964 while Greene’s became official in 2014.
Only one other uniform number joins this hallowed group, as Franco Harris‘ #32 was retired in the 2022 season during a 50th-anniversary celebration of the Immaculate Reception. However, could other jersey retirements be coming soon? I believe that answer is yes.
As most diehard Steelers fans are aware, the team has a number of “unofficially” retired numbers that have not been reissued:
- 1 Gary Anderson
- 7 Ben Roethlisberger
- 12 Terry Bradshaw
- 36 Jerome Bettis
- 43 Troy Polamalu
- 52 Mike Webster
- 58 Jack Lambert
- 59 Jack Ham
- 63 Dermontti Dawson
- 86 Hines Ward
While some of these numbers have, in fact, been reissued for practice players or short spells, for the most part the above list is protected. Seemingly now out of rotation too is Mel Blount‘s #47, since worn a handful of times by a handful of players, but none since 2013.
In keeping with the tradition of anniversaries and nostalgia, the next Steelers uniform to be retired could be Terry Bradshaw’s #12. A great opportunity to do so would be this season, as the Steelers host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5 on Sunday Night Football. The soon-to-be 76-year-old Bradshaw was the MVP of Super Bowl XIII and Super Bowl XIV. The first of those victories came against the Cowboys.
Furthermore, the 2024 season would mark the 45th anniversary of Bradshaw’s MVP performance and Super Bowl XIII win over Dallas, marking an opportune time to make sure the senior figure sees this honor while he’s still with us. (Something that was unfortunately mistimed with Franco Harris, who passed away days before his ceremony nearly two years ago.)
Several of Bradshaw’s teammates, including Mike Webster, Jack Lambert, and Jack Ham, are among those in the “do not issue” jersey number list who could also be bestowed a similar gesture. Mel Blount is also an integral part of the Steelers past and present, and also deserving.
However, as the first quarterback to win four Super Bowl titles, Bradshaw’s name looms as one that should receive the recognition first. Bradshaw’s leadership and clutch performances in four Super Bowl victories (IX, X, XIII, and XIV) solidified his place as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
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As for other jersey retirements, I wouldn’t suspect that we see many others in the coming years. There’s no doubt that Hall of Famers such as Jerome Bettis or Troy Polamalu are befitting of such an honor, but their tenures are still far too “new” to be recognized ahead of the Steel Curtain dynasty of the 1970s.
Even the period between the 80s and 90s was not without its legends. Rod Woodson, a versatile and dynamic cornerback, became one of the most decorated defensive players in NFL history. During the 1990s, the Steelers saw a resurgence under the guidance of head coach Bill Cowher. The team’s fierce defense was led by players like Greg Lloyd, Kevin Greene, and Woodson.
In the 2000s, Ben Roethlisberger signaled the beginning of a new era and led the team to three Super Bowl appearances and two championships (XL and XLIII). His connection with wide receiver Hines Ward, known for his gritty and tenacious play, created one of the most dynamic duos in Steelers history. The 2000s also witnessed the emergence of a new defensive core, featuring Polamalu, James Harrison, and Joey Porter.
Yet, while many of these players are bound for Hall of Honor recognition, if they haven’t been honored already, it’s doubtful that they will witness their jersey retired in the coming years, if ever at all. Due to the logistics of positions and numbers worn, legendary players have seen their numbers 88 and 82 reissued many times over. Receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth are among those who have seen their 88 and 82 worn by other players over the years. Woodson, Harrison, and TE Heath Miller are also greats who have not had their numbers protected.
That leads to a point that retiring too many jerseys may water down the prestige of doing so, which is an incredible thing to say when you consider the amount of Steelers greats.
That’s why Terry Bradshaw’s #12 should stand alone as the next, and only, jersey to be retired by the Pittsburgh Steelers over the next few seasons. Stay tuned and see if the team feels the same way, and if we get an announcement in the coming weeks leading up the regular season.
